Consider the elderly and disabled, Air Asia told

9 February 2024

KOTA  KINABALU: The Air Asia Management should be considerate and compassionate to the vulnerable, elderly and disabled travellers by allowing them to use the existing aerobridge at the Kota Kinabalu International Airport (KKIA).

Minister of Tourism, Culture and Environment Datuk Seri Christina Liew said the facility is, after all, made available at the KKIA, and hoped the Air Asia Management will prioritise the need to provide good service to passengers.

"I have received complaints from senior citizens on Air Asia flights, citing discomfort and inconvenience in having to walk quite a distance from the Terminal building to the waiting aircraft, and then struggle to climb the steps to board the plane. 

"Let us be mindful of the difficulty facing elderly and disabled passengers, and refrain from subjecting them to unnecesssary trouble before and after their flight," Liew said in a statement on Saturday.

Since the KKIA Management is not empowered to compel aircraft to use the aerobridge, the Minister urged the Federal Ministry of Transport (MOT) to consider exercising its power in the interest of the well-being of senior citizens and disabled persons.

It is understood that the Ministry of Transport, Sarawak managed to force Air Asia aircraft to utilise the aerobridge at the Kuching International Airport.